What events led up to the American Revolution?

Essay by brlracinchicHigh School, 11th gradeA+, March 2005

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The American Revolution was started by a series of events. The French and Indian War caused great debt for England, so when it came time to pay back the money England turned to the colonies. The unnecessary imposing of acts on the colonists, the lack of representation in the Parliament, and the embargo of trade with other countries all made the American Colonists mad.

The acts imposed on the colonists were unjust. In 1764, the Sugar Act and the Currency Act were passed. The Sugar Act increased taxes on sugar, and the Currency Act prevented the colonies from printing their own money. In 1765, the Stamp Act was passed. This act made it illegal to purchase certain items without paying for the stamp on them too. In 1767, the Townshend Acts were passed. These acts placed taxes on glass, lead, sugar, paint, and tea. Next, the Tea Act was passed, in 1773.

This act placed a new tax on tea which in turn sparked the Boston Tea Party, lead by the Sons of Liberty. One of the last sets of acts to be passed, were called the Coercive Acts. They were called the Intolerable Acts by the colonists because they did a multiple of things to disrupt the way of life in America. The Coercive Acts shut down Boston Harbor, cancelled the Massachusetts Charter, moved trial locations, and required colonists to house British soldiers.

The colonists were becoming upset with the acts that made them pay high taxes. They didn't have any representation in the Parliament to prevent them from being passed either. The slogan, "No taxation without representation", was then thought of. This could be heard throughout all of the colonies.

Trade was also controlled heavily by the British officials. The Navigation Acts were passed before the others.